The walk off the field at Acrisure Stadium felt a little too long. A little too quiet.
When Aaron Rodgers headed into the tunnel after the Pittsburgh Steelers' 30-6 Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans this past Monday, he didn't look like a guy ready to start a new workout program. He looked like a guy who had just finished 21 years of being chased by 300-pound men and was finally feeling every single one of those hits.
Honestly, we’ve been here before. We’ve seen the darkness retreats, the cryptic Instagram posts, and the "I’m going to go into the woods and think about it" monologues. But this time? This feels heavy. Aaron Rodgers says he is still considering retirement, and for the first time in his legendary career, the "will he or won't he" dance doesn't feel like a quest for attention. It feels like a genuine struggle with the finish line.
No Emotional Decisions in the Steel City
In the immediate aftermath of the Texans loss—a game where Rodgers went 17-of-33 for a modest 146 yards—the 42-year-old quarterback was blunt. "I'm not going to make any emotional decisions," he told reporters. It’s a smart move. You don't decide to end a Hall of Fame career while the sweat is still drying on your jersey and the sting of a pick-six is still fresh in your mind.
But the landscape has changed drastically since he arrived in Pittsburgh.
Rodgers came to the Steelers on a one-year, $13.65 million deal specifically to play for Mike Tomlin. He’s been vocal about that. Now? Tomlin has stepped down after 19 seasons. The man who was the primary lure for Rodgers to wear the Black and Gold is gone. Steelers president Art Rooney II even acknowledged that Tomlin's departure would "most likely affect" Rodgers' decision. If the coach you came for is out, and the system is about to be overhauled, do you really want to learn a new playbook at 42?
The Free Agency Wildcard
If he does stay, it probably won't be in Pittsburgh.
Ian Rapoport recently reported that Rodgers is not expected to return to the Steelers for the 2026 season. Since he’s a free agent, he basically has three doors in front of him:
- Retire immediately. Go out as one of the most talented throwers of the football the world has ever seen.
- Find a contender. Wait for a team with a Super Bowl-ready roster to lose their starter in training camp and swoop in like a mercenary.
- The "LaFleur" Longshot. Some pundits, like Mike Florio, have floated a wild theory about the Steelers trading for Matt LaFleur to lure Rodgers back. Let's be real: that's probably not happening.
Tom Brady recently weighed in on this on Colin Cowherd’s show, and his perspective was actually pretty grounding. Brady pointed out that Rodgers doesn't have kids. He doesn't have that "I need to be at my son's game" pull that finally dragged Brady away from the field. For Rodgers, it's purely about the fire. Is it still there? Can he commit to the year-round grind?
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What the Tape Tells Us
Look, Rodgers was decent this year. He threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. Those aren't "washed" numbers. But he also looked human. In that final game against Houston, he was sacked four times and looked immobile against a fast Texans pass rush.
He joked earlier in the season about being like Benjamin Button, aging in reverse. But Father Time is undefeated. Even if his arm still has that "wow" factor, the recovery time after a Sunday afternoon is getting longer.
Aaron Rodgers says he is still considering retirement because he knows he can't just "show up" and be Aaron Rodgers anymore. To play at the level he demands of himself, he has to be 100% all-in. Anything less, and he risks a "disappointing" end, as Brady put it.
Actionable Next Steps: What to Watch For
If you’re trying to figure out if we’ve seen the last of Number 12 (or 8, or whatever he wears next), keep an eye on these specific triggers over the next few weeks:
- The Coaching Carousel: Watch who the Steelers hire. If they go with a "rebuild" candidate, Rodgers is gone. If they somehow land a veteran-friendly offensive mind, maybe there’s a 1% chance he stays.
- The March 11 Deadline: Free agency begins on March 11, 2026. If Rodgers hasn't announced his retirement by then, he’s likely looking for a new home.
- The "Shadow" Recruitment: Keep an eye on teams like the Dolphins or Raiders. If a team with high-end weapons starts clearing cap space, they might be making a run at a one-year Rodgers rental.
The reality? Rodgers probably doesn't even know yet. He's going to go back to California, sit on his porch, and wait for that feeling in his gut to tell him it's over. But as of right now, the pads are in the locker, and the door is wide open for a final exit.